Deputy

Deputy

The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO), New Orleans, Louisiana, provides care, custody, control, and rehabilitation of its residents in the Orleans Justice Center (OJC). The Mission of the OPSO is to provide community safety and service to the people of Orleans Parish by protecting the rights and humanity of people in custody, supporting the wellness of our staff, and facilitating connections to the community to restore public trust and maintain a healthy community.

Deputy works in Direct Supervision of the Orleans Justice Center housing unit as an officer responsible for supervising inmates, making decisions, solving problems, and managing behavior within the parameters of OPSO policies and procedures.

Deputies are expected to set clear expectations with inmates, use positive reinforcement techniques, hold inmates accountable for their behavior, treat inmates with respect and consideration, be just and fair, manage housing units by walking and talking, identify and address inmate concerns, be a source of information, encourage inmates to take responsibility for themselves, plan and supervise unit activities, develop and measure personal goals for the unit, apply policies and procedures appropriately to achieve unit objectives and effectively communicate among officers on shift, during shift change, with ranking supervisors and other jail staff.

Primary Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Managing the housing unit to ensure a safe and humane environment: Deputies use observation and communication to maximize compliant inmate behavior and minimize the occurrence of disruptive inmate behavior in the housing unit. Communicates rules and expectations to inmates clearly and respond immediately to all incidents of inmate misbehavior and emergencies.
• Handling inmate discipline: Responds fairly and effectively when disciplining inmates for disruptive behavior or rule violations.
• Responding to inmate requests: Deputies answer inmates and search for the answers even if they are not available in the housing unit. Avoids inmate manipulation.
• Building positive rapport and personal credibility with inmates creates an environment of mutual respect by demonstrating consistency and a courteous manner and by following through on commitments made to inmates (e.g., finding answers to questions an inmate has asked).
• Supervising in a clear, well-organized, and attention-getting manner resolving inmate problems and conflicts.
• Provide problem-solving guidance for inmates, recognize the steps in resolving inmate conflicts, and manage the behavior of inmates involved in confrontational situations.
• Effectively organize, supervise, and encourage inmates by ensuring inmates are provided with opportunities for informal activities, speaking with inmates throughout the day, and observing the housing unit while making rounds and spending time away from the desk.
• Maintaining effective administration and staff relations: Deputies know facility rules, policies, and procedures and apply them consistently, coordinate activities with coworkers, support the authority of staff members, and communicate with supervisors and other administrators.
• Communicate with inmates, giving information and directions, mediating disputes, and advising inmates of rights and processes
• Listens to inmates' complaints and resolves inmates' conflicts and problems. Observes and reports on inmate behavior and enforces rules and regulations in maintaining custody of inmates.
• Observe inmates' demeanor to determine mental state and possible need for treatment and/or closer observation.
• Reviews logs and reports from previous shift; maintains knowledge of inmate population and cell assignments.
• Prepares various reports and logs, utilizing department computers and programs.
• Controls inmate movement in the facility through control of doors and elevators.
• Monitors locations of medical and counseling staff to ensure their safety.
• Supervises inmate visitation; assists visitors; inspects items brought to the facility for inmates; and screens and monitors for people seeking access to secure areas within the facility.

Education

High School Diploma, or General Educational Development (GED) Diploma.

Requirements, Skills, and Ability

• Ability to respond quickly and effectively in various situations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all organizational levels, inmates, and the public.
• Ability to exercise fair and impartial judgment in dealing with people of varied ages, sexes, and ethnic groups.
• Ability to work under stress.
• Ability to read and interpret materials as needed when reading federal and state laws and City and Parish, and other municipal ordinances.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare routine and special reports and projects assigned.
• Ability to work well with varied and demanding people.
• Ability to work from broad direction with limited supervision.
• Ability to work well with culturally diverse people.
• Ability to clearly and logically organize information.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and address problems and trends in a timely, efficient, and equitable manner.
• Ability to organize activities to complete tasks by priorities and address multiple demands or meet deadlines.
• Ability to focus attention on complex, routine, and/or repetitive tasks, without losing concentration or being distracted by external activities.
• Ability to adapt to interruptions, equipment failures, unusual demands, or changing priorities; handle confidential information; and coordinate, analyze, and utilize a variety of reports and records.

Equipment Used Regularly

• Utilizes computer equipment and programs, to include data entry equipment and various database programs to enter, store, and/or retrieve information on inmates, computerized electronic security equipment, touch screen and manual control panels, intercoms, CCTV, and electronic recording equipment to oversee the security of the facility.
• Radios
• Telephones

Certification and Licenses

• Minimum age: 18 years of age
• Valid driver's license.
• Successful completion of the POST 2 basic training academy.

Job-Related Environmental Factors

The employee routinely works in an indoor environment but will occasionally work in outdoor weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The employee works a significant amount of time inside a detention center, dealing daily with inmates. While good behavior is expected of the inmates, some contact may be had with inmates who are or may be violent or have a mental illness. Working conditions can be highly stressful.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk, or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move office products and supplies, up to 50 pounds.

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